My wife and I are both good cooks, but have been pressed for time. However, 3-4 years ago we basically stopped eating out, largely because of just how expensiv

My wife and I are both good cooks, but have been pressed for time. However, 3-4 years ago we basically stopped eating out, largely because of just how expensive it is. I changed my perspective around that time from "food is a chore" to "food is a luxury", and started trying to "go the extra inch" and try to make some nicer meals. Tonight was extra special, being our 5 year anniversary, so I: Grilled a couple steaks, caramelized 3 onions and used the fond with some wine, tamarind, miso paste and beef stock to make a pan sauce, baked some potatoes and roasted some carrots. The left over onions and pan sauce I turned into a salad dressing for the week. It takes some work, but once you dial in the basic chemistry of cooking, things start to become second nature.